John mackey larkin



` v Patented Dec. 6, |898. J. M. LARKIN.

CARCDUPLING.

(Application filed Feb. 9, 1898.) (No Model.)

9 11 9 40 "3 g f3 /o lg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MAOKEY LARKIN, OF UNION, SOUTH CAROLINA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,561, dated December 6, 1898.

v Application filed February 9, 1898. Serial No. 669,677. (No model.)

T0 all whom t '7n/tty concern-.f

Be it known that I, JOHN MACKEY LARKIN, of Union, in the county of Union and State of South Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in car-couplings of the link-and-pin type, and has for its object to provide a car-coupling of that character with novel features of construction which are adapted to absorb shocks due to the impingelnent of two couplings when coupled and also to permita free lateral movement ofthe coupling-link when two coupling draw-heads are connected therewith.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similarcharaeters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of two couplings having the improvement substantially on the line 1 1 Yin Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the saine, essentially on the line 2 2 in Fig. l. Fig. 3 isasectional plan View showing a modified form of a feature of the invention as applied to two carcouplings. Fig. 4 is a sectional side view of two draw-heads in coupled condition, the coupling-link being similar to that shown in Fig. 1, the other features of theinvention being slightly changed in design; and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 5 5 in Fig. 3.

In carrying into effect the features of invention the draw-head 10 of the improved car-coupling may with advantage be formed as shown, having the front end furnished with a thickening-rib to aord strength thereto. A recess or chamber ot extends from the front end of the draw-head rearwardly therein, and the walls of the draw-head as well as the chamber mentioned are rectangular in cross-section.

A rabbet is formed in the front ends of the four walls of the chamber ct, said rabbet bcing rearwardly extended a sufficient distance to produce a proper enlargement of the chamber for the reception of the buffer-block 11 or 11a. The buffer-block may be in the form of a short cylinder of hard wood and be incased by a jacket c of metal or may be of tough hard wood devoid of the casing. When the buenblock is in cylindric form, as represented at 11 in Figs. l, 2, and 3, the side walls of the draw-head are concaved where rabbeted, so as to adapt them to receive and loosely contact with the cylindric wall of the buffer-block or with the jacket c thereon, as the case may be.

As the top and lower walls of the cylindric buer-block 11 are Hat and parallel, it is of course necessary to rabbet the upper and lower walls of the draw-head to conform with said end walls of the buffer-block l1, and thus permit the free insertion of the latter until it is properly seated in the forwardenlargement of the draw-head chamber, as is clearly shown in the drawings.

In Fig. 4 the buffer-block l1 is represented as spherical, and to accommodate this form of buffer-block the front end of the draw-head chamber is suitably concaved on the inner corners, thus providing a cup-like seat or rabbet of a depth Which'will permit a proper embedment of the spherical buer-block therein. The buffer-block, either in cylindric or spherical form, is diametrically slotted, as at d, for the reception of the coupling-link 12 or 12a.'

The link is preferably shaped as shown at 12 in Figs. l, 2, and 4, comprising two sections that are jointed together at their opposing -ends at e, so as to permit a lateral iieXure of the same.

A longitudinally-disposed slot f is formed in the link 12 near the outer end of each section thereof, said slots being provided for the reception of two coupling-pins 13, as will be further explained.

The diametrical slots d in the buffer-blocks 11 or 1 1 loosely receive the jointed link 12, and the ends of the latter project far enough from each side of the buffer-block to allow the projecting portions of the link to occupy the recess or chamber ct in two draw-heads of the improved construction when they arc to be coupled together.

The draw-head bodyis perforated vertically for the free insertion of a coupling-pin 13, which may be and preferably is in the form IOO of a cylindrical bar havingl an eye g at its upper end. The coupling-pin 13 when inserted may pass through the slot f in one section of the coupling-link 12, that has been inserted Within the chamber c1, of the drawhead, and thus loosely secure the link in the draw-head.

It is to be understood that when the link 12, having the buffer-block ll or 11 thereon, is secured at one end within the chamber d of the draw-head lO the butter-block will be maintained in engagement with said parts and the outer section of the link will be supported, so as to freely enter a like draw-head for coupled engagement therewith. Any approved means may be employed for lifting and dropping the coupling-pins 13--such, for example, as a chain connection to the ordinary rock-shaft and arm thereon on a car-- which in the usual manner will permit a manipulation of the coupling-pin from the side of the car in a safe manner, it being evident that other means may also be provided for such a purpose, and as this is not a feature of the improvement it is not deemed necessary to show the same in the drawings.

It will be seen that when two cars provided with the improved couplings are coupled together the wooden buffer-block that is interposed between opposite ends of the drawheads will cushion the shocks sustained by the car-couplings while in service, and thus obviate injury to the cars and couplings.

From the peculiar construction of the link and buffer-block freedom is afforded for the lateral movement of engaged parts of two couplings when running on curves of a railroad, thus avoiding any cramping action, while end bumping of the couplings is prevented in a large degree.

The link may also be formed as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 at 12, In this construction the slots f are dispensed with, and the two linksections are widened at their outer ends to produce coupling-heads thereon. It the link is formed as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, aforked coupling-pin 13a is employed for securing the link within the draw-head chamber, and to permit such a furcated pin to be introduced two vertical pertorations must be formed in the draw-head body, as shown at 71, in Fig. 5.

It will be seen that when the parallel members of the coupling-pin 13a are inserted Within the draw-head lO at the front of ahead on the link 12C said link will be loosely secured within the draw-head.

In case the cylindric butter-block 1l is jacketed with a metal casin g c the casing may have ribs c' at the ends, which `will add to its durability and permit the casing to be made of light plate metal.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a chambered draw head, and a jointed coupling-link securable therein, of a buffer-block atthe front end of the draw-head and having a laterally-widened transverse slot through which the link passes, and within which it is adapted to ilex laterally, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a chambered drawhead, and a jointed coupling-link securable therein, of a buffer-block at the front end of the draw-head and ha ving alaterally-widened transverse slot through which the link passes, the joint thereof being located in said slot and thus adapted to iieX laterally, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a chambered drawhead, and a coupling-link securable thereto, of a wooden butter-block at the front end of the draw-head, and a metal jacket on said buffer-block, the block and jacket being slotted for the passage ot the link therethrough, substantially as described.

Lhln a car-coupling ot' the character described, a transversely-slotted wooden bufferblock incased in a slotted metal jacket, and adapted to be held at the front end of the draw head by a coupling link insertedl through the slot thereof and secured in the draw-head, substantially as described.

JOHN MAGKEY LARKIN. 

